Fifteen language course scholarships are on offer to Turkish students who compete in a social media competition organised by Edumag, a new study abroad social content platform.
So far the contest has attracted some 1,400 entrants across Turkey and beyond who are sharing their study abroad testimonials on the platform.
Students submit their diaries, photos galleries or videos to 15 different categories for the chance to win a three or four week course at either a language school or summer school in four destinations: Malta, Ireland, the UK and the US.
“We did this competition to have a crowd sourcing platform where students can share their native experiences”
Fazil Mammadov at Edumag said the contest aims to encourage Turkish students to spend time overseas by giving them an insight into the personal experiences of others who have already been broad.
“We did this competition to have a crowd sourcing platform where students can share their native experiences,” said Mammadov. “Students can share their experience, to write their diary or to share their videos and photos, and also spread it around social media.”
Turkish students over the age of 13, including those who are currently studying or working overseas, as well as international students in Turkey, are eligible to apply.
Entrants will seek interaction and shares on social media, with the top 10 in each category going through to a judging panel, made up of members from the education industry.
Judges include representatives from EC English, Embassy and Kaplan, as well as from education agencies in Turkey.
Mammadov said if successful, the competition will create more awareness of the study abroad opportunities available to students in Turkey.
“There is a fear among the people who don’t even know that there is an existence of these programmes,” said Mammadov. “Some people have a fear that it’s very expensive, some people fear that it’s not productive or they can gain something.”
Participants will produce and promote content until the end of September, with the social media votes taking place in October. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on November 12.
